Algeria sparks new diplomatic crisis with Mali, Niger & Burkina Faso

Mali, Niger & Burkina Faso have accused Algeria of sponsoring terrorism and decided to recall their Ambassadors from the North African country after the Algerian military regime downed a Malian drone in the West African country territory.

In a press release issued Sunday, Malian authorities denounced a deliberate act of aggression by the Algerian regime, affirming that its drone, which was performing a reconnaissance mission in Tinzawaten region, never crossed the Algerian border.

Through this “unacceptable and hostile” act, the Algerian regime supports international terrorism by hindering security operations against terrorist groups operating in the region, threatening peace and stability in the Sahel.

The Algerian ambassador in Bamako was summoned by the Malian foreign ministry to express Mali’s firm protest and condemnation of Algeria’s provocative and hostile aggression, proving it is a terror-sponsor state and exporter of instability.

Niger and Burkina-Faso expressed solidarity with Mali as the three neighboring countries are members of the Alliance of Sahel States. They condemned the downing of Malian drone as an “irresponsible act” violating international law.

They withdrew their ambassadors from Algeria and said they will file a complaint with “international bodies” about the Algerian military aggression.

The three Sahel countries withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and created their own security partnership, signaling a substantial reconfiguration of West African regional cooperation, with economic, security diplomatic implications.